Thermostat with limited adjustment restraining guard

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is provided that includes a thermostat comprising a thermostat housing adapted to be secured to a mounting surface, an adjustable thermostat device contained within the thermostat housing, user and secure adjustment controls, a cover member movably mounted with respect to thermostat housing, a movement restraining member dimensioned and configured to lock the cover member and prevent its movement from a locked position to an unlocked position, and a lock comprising a movable locking member.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates an apparatus for permitting limited accessto a thermostat using a mechanical restraint technology applicable toboth OEM equipment and aftermarket application.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

(Not applicable)

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

(Not applicable)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has long been known that the functioning of wall thermostats is oftencompromised because persons working or living in the space being heatedor cooled can easily change the settings. This is due to the fact thatpeople often feel compelled to adjust thermostat settings based onpersonal preferences, the clothing they are wearing, failure to readtemperature settings and displayed temperature readings, swell as onaccount of an understanding of basic thermostat functions. This isfacilitated because thermostat buttons are most often unprotected frommechanical manipulation and are easily accessible. Such easyaccessibility to thermostat programming buttons leads to thermostatreprogramming, wasted energy, and even, potentially, equipmentmalfunction and damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There are thermostat lock boxes available on the market that may be usedto protect a thermostat from unwanted manipulation and/or, ifapplicable, reprogramming. Such thermostats may, for example, bemicroprocessor based and may offer a wide range of programming optionsincluding programming temperature setpoints for a plurality of periodsduring the day, such as morning, day, evening, etc. Generally, lockboxes comprise a rectangular box having a rear surface, four flatsidewalls extending substantially from the rear wall, and a lid closureon the front. The lock box may be opened, for example, by hinging openthe front lid closure. The front lid may be locked in the closedposition. Such lock boxes may be installed by opening the front lid andsecuring the lock box in place on the wall in the position where thethermostat is to be employed.

The wires powering the thermostat and carrying control signals to theenvironmental system pass through a hole in the back of the lock boxinto the interior of the lock box. These wires are then connected to thethermostat and the thermostat is then installed in place, for exampleusing screws which pass through holes in the back of the lockbox.

The thermostat may then be programmed through the open front lid of thelock box, after which the front lid is closed and the lock turned tolock the lid in the closed position.

Thus, in the case of a retrofit product, such a lock box requires thatthe thermostat be taken off the wall in order for the lock box to beassembled. If there is not a suitable set of holes to allow thermostatinstallation, new holes must be located and drilled.

Further, in contrast with the inventive system, such prior art lockboxes do not allow for any access because the box completely enclosesthe thermostat. Thus, while such a lock box can be helpful in protectingthe thermostat, it is inconvenient for someone to quickly access thethermostat program functions without opening the box, for example,having to involve and inconvenience a third party.

The invention relates to improvements in such devices. In accordancewith the present invention, the problem of being able to protect thethermostat from unwanted manipulation while allowing access isaddressed.

More particularly, the present invention comprises a thermostat with aprotective lock ring frame specially constructed to be easily attachedto the housing, without having the need to dismount the thermostat fromthe wall. Further, the front portion of the thermostat housing is of thetype which allows a person to have limited access to controls, forexample, access to limited controls, for example a temperatureadjustment that allows a temporary temperature change but no access tothe programmed setpoints. This achieved by providing a hinged thermostatcover which covers some of the controls, but allows others to passthrough the cover for convenient access, but covering the others to givethe thermostat a clean uncluttered visual appearance. The limitedcontrols, for example push button controls, may thus be pressed orotherwise accessed without having to open the hinged lid.

In accordance with the invention, a tamper guard is secured to the mainbody of the thermostat and mechanically prevents the hinged lid of thethermostat from being opened as appears more fully below. The tamperguard may be secured by first mating structures at first ends of thethermostat and the tamper guard (for example the left ends), and, at theother ends (for example the right ends), a lock (for example a key orcombination lock) and corresponding second mating structures.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, access toonly some of the adjustment buttons, for example those for raising orlowering the temperature setpoint for the duration of the currentprogramming period, may be accomplished by having most of the controlbuttons covered by the hinging front portion of the thermostat housing.Further in accordance with the preferred embodiment, range limits may beimplemented by programming of the microprocessor. Moreover, onlyindividuals with access keys to the tamper guard (which may take theform of a lock ring frame) will be able to easily open the tamper guardand access all of the thermostat's programming buttons. Thus, one maycontrol the number of individuals who will have full access to thethermostat's controls.

A preferred embodiment of a system constructed in accordance with thepresent invention comprises a thermostat, comprising a main body, and aprotective tamper guard (optionally a rigid protective tamper guard)fitted with a lock mechanism, where the tamper guard may be fitted onand removed from the thermostat main body while the inventive thermostatremains directly mounted on a wall surface. The main body of theinventive thermostat comprises outward protruding edges, creating a lipthat may be used to attach the rigid protective tamper guard.

The rigid protective tamper guard may optionally be of same shape as theinventive thermostat housing. Optionally, it may be slightly larger tofacilitate placing it over the thermostat main body, but not too muchlarger so that it may fit snuggly over the thermostat housing.

The tamper guard may take the form of a locking ring, as appears morefully below, but may also take the form of an elongated member which maybe secured across the hinged lid at opposite ends of the housing.Alternatively, the hinged lid may be omitted from the thermostat and thetamper guard simply comprises a cover that overlies and prevents accessto those controls to which one wishes to limit access.

In accordance with the invention, additional features may be provided tothe limited controls accessible when the tamper guard of the presentinvention is in place. The limited controls may be limited in a desiredway, for example, such controls may limit the capability of raising orlowering the temperature by a maximum of three degrees from thesetpoint, resulting in limited adjustability within a six degree range.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The operation of the inventive system will become apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the invention, in the form ofa thermostat and tamper guard system, exposing operative internalstructure of its compatible locking ring device;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the locking ring device of theembodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3. is a rear perspective view illustrating a first stage in themounting of the locking ring on the thermostat main body in the courseof the compatible lock ring being placed into the operative position,prior to being engaged by the main body of the thermostat at a firstpoint in time;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view, similar to FIG. 3 illustrating themounting process at a second later point in time;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view illustrating the assembled inventivethermostat system;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the thermostat with thehinge-mounted cover member in the open position;

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional detail view along lines 7-7 ofFIG. of the inventive thermostat system illustrating the relationshipbetween the thermostat main body, the hinged cover and the tamper guard,with the hinged cover in the closed position and with the tamper guardin the locking position;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the thermostat with the hingedcover member in the closed position;

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the thermostat with the hingedcover in the closed position;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective front view of the assembledinvention;

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of themovement restraining member;

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of themovement restraining member assembled onto a thermostat;

FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of themovement restraining member illustrating the movement restraining memberas a bar, covering program features of a thermostat; and

FIG. 14 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the movementrestraining member, as illustrated in FIG. 13, illustrating therelationship between the thermostat main body and the movementrestraining member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The inventive thermostat may be understood with reference to FIGS. 1-5.More particularly, FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of anexemplary thermostat system 10 constructed in accordance with theinvention. Thermostat system 10 comprises a main body 12 and a separatetamper guard taking the form of a movement restraining member 14 whichoverlies a hinged cover member 15 in the locking configuration. Hingedcover member 15 covers most of the controls of thermostat system 10,allowing only access to some of the controls when it is in the closedposition. Movement restraining member 14 prevents hinged cover member 15from being hinged open and thus prevents unauthorized access to theother the controls which are covered by hinged cover member 15 when itis in the closed position, as is more fully described below.

Movement restraining member 14 comprises left and right peripheralsidewalls 16 and 17, a front wall 18 defining a window 19, a topsidewall 20 and a bottom sidewall 22. A mating locking surface 34 isconfigured to cooperate with rear surface 44 of main body 12 to performa hinging function to enable hinging movement of restraining member 14,as will be detailed below. A rear wall member 23 carrying mating lockingsurface 34 may be integrally formed with top sidewall 20.

In accordance with the invention, movement restraining member 14 may beformed in a single injection molding procedure using any suitablepolymeric material. Alternatively, it may be formed in multiple partsand the individual parts may be cemented together to form the finishedmovement restraining member 14.

Of course, the dimensions movement restraining member 14 may be widelyvaried. Indeed, if the invention is being manufactured as an aftermarketaccessory, it is important that the dimensions be varied and conformedto be congruent to the dimensions of the main body of the thermostat towhich it is desired to restrict access.

As shown in FIG. 2, bottom sidewall 22 houses a lock 24 having a movablelocking member 26, a lock housing 28, and a keyhole 30. Configuration ofbottom sidewall 22 of movement restraining member 14 may be varied. Inone embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 1, bottom sidewall 22protrudes downward and conforms around lock 24.

Bottom sidewall 22 may also comprise a series of reinforcement supports32 that are integrally formed with bottom sidewall 22. Reinforcementsupports 32 may be arranged in equidistant symmetry with respect to eachother. Reinforcement supports 32 are used to help guide the main body 12into the movement restraining member 14 and prevent its movement insidethe restraining member 14. Reinforcement supports 32 may be made of thesame or similar material as the movement restraining member 14.

Referring to FIG. 2, top sidewall 20 of movement restraining member 14comprises a mating locking surface 34. Mating locking surface 34 isintegrally formed with the bottom edge of top sidewall 20 such thatmating locking surface 34 is perpendicular to top sidewall 20. Member 23having mating locking surface 34 may be made of the same or a similarmaterial used for formation of main body 12 or movement restrainingmember 14. Mating locking surface 34 engages rear surface 44 of mainbody 12 such that at least a portion of mating locking surface 34overlies main body 12, for example holding the movement restrainingmember 14 flush with main body 12.

Referring to FIG. 3-5, several perspective views, showing successivesteps in the placement of movement restraining member 14, taken from therear of the assembly of the thermostat system 10 constructed inaccordance with the invention are shown. Referring to FIG. 3 inparticular, main body 12 comprises a plantar plastic thermostat housingbase 36 adapted to be secured to a mounting surface by screws or otherfasteners which pass through openings 38 and 39. Openings 38 and 39 maybe placed with equidistant symmetry with respect to each other. Openings38 and 39 are also elongated to accommodate errors in the drilling ofholes, to enable level placement of thermostat 10. The same isaccommodated by orienting holes 38 with a vertical orientation andorienting holes 39 with a horizontal orientation.

Main body 12 generally comprises a forward portion 40 and a rearwardportion 42. Forward portion 40 extends beyond the dimensions of rearwardportion 42 and defines a catch surface 44 that is adapted to engage, inthe hinging and locking positions with the mating locking surface 34.Main body 12 houses an adjustable thermostat device 46, for example anelectronic programmable device.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, continued movement from the positionillustrated in FIG. 3 in the direction of arrows 21, brings movementrestraining member 14 to the position illustrated in FIG. 4, wheresurfaces 34 and 44 engage each other. In this position, because at leasta portion of mating locking surface 34 engages catch surface 44 andoverlies at least a portion of catch surface 44 hinging movement ofmovement restraining member 14 in the direction of arrow 45 will bringmovement restraining member 14 to the position illustrated in FIG. 5.

During the placement of movement restraining member 14 over main body12, a key rotatable locking member 26 is in the unlocked positionillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 in solid lines, and illustrated in phantomlines in FIG. 5. In the unlocked position, movable locking member 26 isnot engaged with catch surface 47, allowing for hinging movement ofrestraining member 14 over main body 12, covering main body 12 andlocking down and cover member 15, preventing hinged cover member 15 frombeing hinged open to the position illustrated in FIG. 6.

Referring back to FIG. 5, once movement restraining member 14 is fittedinto the locking position on main body 12, rotatable locking member 26is rotated, from the position shown in phantom lines in FIG. 5 to theposition shown in solid lines in FIG. 5. This is done by turning a key,not illustrated, which is placed in keyhole 30 and rotated, in theconventional manner, from an unlocked position shown in FIG. 4 to alocked position shown in FIG. 5. More particularly, this is achieved byrotatable locking member 26 engaging with catch surface 47, by havingrotatable locking member 26 overlying at least a portion of catchsurface 47. Movable locking member 26 works in conjunction with matinglocking surface 34 to lock movement restraining member 14 onto main body12 and prevent movement restraining member 14 from being removed withoutchanging the state of lock 24.

Referring to FIG. 6, adjustable thermostat device 46 (shown in FIG. 3)is coupled to a display 48, an adjustment controls panel 50 (includingbuttons 51 (for example dedicated fan, outdoor, humidity, program andset clock buttons)), up and down temperature setting buttons 52 and 54,a mode button 56, and an indicator light 58, whose operation may be of aconventional nature. Cover member 15 is movably mounted on a hinge 60.Cover member 15 is dimensioned to conform around the peripheral sidewall63 of main body 12. Cover member 15 may be made of the same material(for example, injection molded plastic) as main body 12 and/or movementrestraining member 14. When being opened, cover member 15 moves in thedirection of arrow 61.

Peripheral sidewall 63 may be dimensioned to be smaller than outersidewall 40 creating a ledge 43. Ledge 43 may be dimensioned to snuglyfit top and bottom peripheral side walls 62 and 64, left sidewall 68(FIG. 9), and right side 70 (FIG. 8).

Peripheral sidewall 63 may also be configured with a catch surface 45.Catch surface 45 may be made of the same material as main body 12.

More particularly, referring to FIG. 7, when cover member 15 is movedinto the closed position (FIGS. 7 and 8), catch surface 45 deflects amating protrusion 71 in cover member 15. When cover member 15 is in theclosed position, catch surface 45 has snapingly engaged matingprotrusion 71, securing cover member 15 onto main body 12. Protrusion 71may be made of the same material as main body 12 or its correspondingcatch surface 45. As is also illustrated in FIG. 7, movement restrainingmember 14 (which is held in place because of the locking arrangementbetween locking member 26 and catch surface 47 on the bottom of thethermostat and the locking arrangement between locking surface 34 andrear surface 44 on the top of the thermostat, as seen in FIG. 5)prevents 15 from being hinged open, thus preventing access to coveredthermostat controls 51 and 56. However, at the same time, even in thelocked position, access is allowed to controls 78 and 80, and indicatorlight 58 may be seen through hole 76. Moreover, also at the same time,in the locked position, display, for example a touchscreen display 48may be seen through window 19.

The functioning of the inventive system may be understood in greaterdetail from FIGS. 8 and 9, perspective views from the front and rear,respectively, of the thermostat main body 12 of thermostat system 10.More specifically, referring to FIG. 8, cover member 15 comprisesperipheral side walls 62 and 64, a front wall 66, a left sidewall 68 (asshown in FIG. 9), and a right sidewall 70. Front wall 66 may beconfigured to define a window 72. Window 72 may be dimensioned to be ofsame or similar size as display 48, allowing for display 48 to be seenby user when cover member 15 is in the closed position. Front wall 66may be configured to define a mode button opening 74, an indicator lightopening 76, an up arrow opening 78, and a down arrow opening 80.

It may thus be understood that display 48 may be seen when cover member15 is in the closed position illustrated in FIG. 8. Likewise, modebutton 56, and up and down setpoint adjustment buttons 52 and 54 extendthrough holes 74, 78 and 80, respectively, when cover member 15 is inthe closed position illustrated in FIG. 8, and are thus accessible whencover member 15 is closed.

Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 10 (where movement restraining member14 is in the locked position disposed over cover member 15 with covermember 15 in the closed position), window 19 extends around and exposesdisplay 48, mode button 56, and up and down setpoint adjustment buttons52 and 54. Thus, the display of, for example, temperature and/orprogramming information may be seen by users without a key to removemovement restraining member 14 in the locked position illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 10. Likewise, even in the locked position, users without akey to remove movement restraining member 14 will have access, throughwindow 19, to mode button 56, and up and down setpoint adjustmentbuttons 52 and 54, allowing them to make limited changes to theoperation of thermostat system 10.

In this embodiment, even without movable locking member 26 rotated tothe locked position, movement restraining member 14 is relativelystable, hanging around forward portion 40 of thermostat main body 12.

An alternate embodiment of the inventive movement restraining member114, which may be mounted on forward portion 40 of the thermostat mainbody 12 illustrated in FIG. 8, is illustrated in FIG. 11. Generally,similar parts or parts performing analogous, corresponding or identicalfunctions to those of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 10, arenumbered herein with numbers which differ from those of the earlierdescribed embodiment or embodiments by multiples of one hundred.

Referring to FIG. 11, the structure of the alternative preferredembodiment of the inventive movement restraining member 114 can be seen.Movement restraining member 114 comprises peripheral sidewalls 116 and117, a front wall 118 defining a window 119, a left sidewall 120 and aright sidewall 122. A mating locking member 134 configured to perform ahinging function is integrally formed with left sidewall 120.

Movement restraining member 114 may be formed in a single injectionmolding procedure using any polymeric material. Alternatively, it may beformed in multiple parts and the individual parts may be cementedtogether to form the finished movement restraining member 114.

Right sidewall 122 houses a lock 124. Lock 124 comprises a movablelocking member 126, a lock housing 128 and a lock keyhole 130. In thisembodiment of movement restraining member 114, the ends of rightsidewall 122 are curved upward toward left sidewall 120, forming aconvex shape with peripheral side walls 116 and 117.

As is illustrated in FIG. 12, an alternate embodiment of the inventivemovement restraining member 214, which may be mounted by hinging on theon top portion 240 of thermostat main body 212 where thermostat 210 isof the type which does not include a cover member such as the covermember 15 found in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6. In this case,the objective is for the movement restraining member 214 to includestructure, such as flat plate 217, which overlies the buttons to whichone desires to restrict access, for example buttons 251, and thusphysically covers and blocks access to the same.

With further reference to FIG. 12, the alternative preferred embodimentof the thermostat system 210 comprises a movement restraining member214, which is illustrated in the locked position, where it is disposeddirectly over thermostat main body 212. Movement restraining member 214comprises peripheral side walls 216 and 217, a front wall 218 defining awindow 219, a top sidewall 220 and a bottom sidewall 222.

Movement restraining member 214 may be formed in a single injectionmolding procedure using any polymeric material. Alternatively, it may beformed in multiple parts and the individual parts may be cementedtogether to form the finished movement restraining member 214.

Bottom sidewall 222 houses a lock 224. Lock 224 comprises a rotatablelocking member 226, a lock housing 228 and a lock keyhole 230. Whenmovement restraining member 214 is in the locking position, asillustrated in FIG. 12, front wall 218 directly overlies buttons 251 butallows for display 248 to be viewed through window 219. At the sametime, access to up and down set point adjustment buttons 252 and 253(and optionally other controls) is permitted through window 219.Likewise, the user may view indicator light 258 through a hole 259.

Thus, even when a cover of the type illustrated by cover member 15 inFIGS. 6 and 8, is omitted from the thermostat 212, movement restrainingmember 214 may control access in accordance with the invention byproviding structure which overlies and prevents access to, for example,program buttons 251 and/or the other controls to which one wishes tolimit access. Restricting access to program buttons 251 is secured byrotating rotatable locking member 226 (or by using another lockingtechnique, for example in response to turning of a key, not illustrated,or by an alternate means, such as a combination lock. The result is thatrotatable locking member 226 engages with catch surface 247 by overlyingat least a portion of catch surface 247.

Yet another alternate embodiment of the inventive movement restrainingmember 314, where movement restraining member 314 may take the form ofan access preventing locking bar and may be mounted directly overbuttons 351, is illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14.

Movement restraining member 314 may be formed in a single injectionmolding procedure using any polymeric material. Alternatively, it may beformed in multiple parts and the individual parts may be cementedtogether to form the finished movement restraining member 314.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the inventive movement restraining member314 comprises peripheral side walls 316 and 317, and a front blockingbar 318. Peripheral side housing 316 houses a lock 324. Lock 324comprises a movable locking member 326, as illustrated in FIG. 14, alock housing 328 and a lock keyhole 330. Movement restraining member 314may be dimensioned and configured to directly overlie program buttons351, preventing access to buttons 351 in the case where a cover member(such as cover member 15, as illustrated in FIG. 6, is omitted from thethermostat design). Prevention of access to program buttons 351 issecured when rotatable locking member 326 is rotated, in response to,for example, turning of a key, not illustrated, and rotatable lockingmember 326 engages with catch surface 347 by overlying at least aportion of catch surface 347.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 14, internal surface 391 of peripheralside wall 317 of movement restraining member 314 may be provided with afriction promoting member 392. Friction promoting member 392 may, forexample, be a strip of rubber or any other suitable material capable offrictionally holding movement restraining member 314 in place andpreventing movement restraining member 314 from slipping or beingforcibly displaced on thermostat 312.

While illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described, itis noted that various modifications will be apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art in view of the above description and drawings.Such modifications are within the scope of the invention which islimited and defined only by the following claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A thermostat, comprising: (a) a thermostat housingadapted to be secured to a mounting surface; (b) an adjustablethermostat device contained within said thermostat housing; (c) a useradjustment control associated with said thermostat housing, said useradjustment control being coupled to said adjustable thermostat device toadjust first parameters for the operation of said adjustable thermostatdevice; (d) a securable adjustment control associated with saidthermostat housing, said securable adjustment control being coupled tosaid adjustable thermostat device to adjust second parameters for theoperation of said adjustable thermostat device; (e) a cover membermovably mounted with respect to said thermostat housing, said covermember moving between a first position where said securable adjustmentcontrol is covered by said cover member and a second position where saidsecurable adjustment control is exposed to allow adjustment of the sameby a person, said user adjustment control being exposed to allowadjustment in said first and second positions; (f) a catch surfacedefined by said thermostat housing and/or said cover member, when saidcover member is in said first position; (g) a movement restrainingmember dimensioned and configured in a locking position to engage saidcatch surface and overly at least a portion of said cover member whensaid cover member is in said first position, said movement restrainingmember being configured and dimensioned to prevent movement of saidcover member from said first position to said second position when saidmovement restraining member is in said locking position overlying atleast a portion of said cover member, said movement restraining memberoverlying said secure adjustment control when said movement restrainingmember is in said locking position; (h) a first mating locking surfacedefined by said movement restraining member; (i) a second mating lockingsurface defined by said thermostat housing, said second mating lockingsurface mating with said first mating locking surface; and (j) a lockcomprising a movable locking member secured to one of said movementrestraining member or said thermostat housing, said movable lockingmember being rotatable to engage a surface on the other of said movementrestraining member or thermostat housing.
 2. The thermostat as in claim1, where user and securable adjustment controls associated with thethermostat housing are mechanical, said adjustment control comprises adisplay, programming controls, a push button, up and down arrows, saidbuttons and display being located on front face of the adjustmentcontrol.
 3. The thermostat as in claim 1, where the cover member ismovably mounted on a hinge, said cover member having cutouts for thedisplay, the up and down arrows, and the push button.
 4. The thermostatas in claim 3, where the cover member overlies securable adjustmentcontrol, but exposes user adjustment control.
 5. The thermostat as inclaim 1, where the body of the thermostat housing further comprises aforward portion and a rearward portion, where the forward portionextends beyond the dimensions of the rearward portion, said extension ofthe forward portion creates the catch surface, where said catch surfaceis engaged by the movement restraining member.
 6. The thermostat as inclaim 1, where the movement restraining member comprises a front portionand a back portion, said front portion comprises a cutout window that isconfigured and dimensioned to exhibit the display and the useradjustment control buttons, and a back portion comprising a first matinglocking surface, said first mating locking surface mating with thesecond locking surface secured to the thermostat housing.
 7. Thethermostat as in claim 1, where the lock comprises a lock housing, alock key insert, and a movable locking member, said lock housing beingmounted onto the front portion of the movement restraining member wheresaid lock housing is adapted to accommodate the lock key insert, saidlock key insert having a front portion and a back portion, where thefront portion is adapted to accommodate a key and the back portion isadapted to accommodate the movable locking member.
 8. The thermostat asin claim 7, where the movable locking member has a length and a width,where one end of the movable locking member is secured to the backportion of the lock key insert and opposite end is unattached, where inresponse to a turn of the lock key insert from first position to secondposition said movable locking member moves from said first position tosaid second position.
 9. The thermostat as in claim 8, where theunattached portion of the movable locking member, in response to a turnof the lock key insert from first position to second position, movesfrom said first position to said second position and engages the catchsurface of the thermostat housing base, overlying at least a portion ofsaid catch surface.
 10. A locking device for a thermostat of the typecomprising (i) a thermostat housing adapted to be secured to a mountingsurface; (ii) an adjustable thermostat device contained within saidhousing; (iii) a user adjustment control associated with said thermostathousing, said user adjustment control being coupled to said adjustablethermostat device to adjust first parameters for the operation of saidadjustable thermostat device; (iv) a securable adjustment controlassociated with said thermostat housing, said securable adjustmentcontrol being coupled to said adjustable thermostat device to adjustsecond parameters for the operation of said adjustable thermostatdevice; (v) a cover member movably mounted with respect to saidthermostat housing, said cover member moving between a first positionwhere said securable adjustment control is covered by said cover memberand a second position where said securable adjustment control is exposedto allow adjustment of the same by a person, said user adjustmentcontrol being exposed to allow adjustment in said first and secondpositions; (vi) a catch surface defined by said thermostat housingand/or said cover member, when said cover member is in said firstposition; and (vii) a second mating locking surface secured to saidthermostat housing base, said second mating locking surface mating withsaid first mating locking surface, and said locking device comprising:(a) a movement restraining member dimensioned and configured in alocking position to engage said catch surface and overly at least aportion of said cover member when said cover member is in said firstposition, said movement restraining member being configured anddimensioned to prevent movement of said cover member from said firstposition to said second position when said movement restraining memberis in said locking position overlying at least a portion of said covermember, said movement restraining member overlying said securableadjustment control when said movement restraining member is in saidlocking position; (b) a first mating locking surface defined by saidmovement restraining member; and (c) a lock comprising a movable lockingmember secured to one of said movement restraining member or saidthermostat housing, said movable locking member being rotatable toengage a surface on the other of said movement restraining member orthermostat housing.
 11. A locking device for a thermostat of the typecomprising (i) a thermostat housing adapted to be secured to a mountingsurface; (ii) an adjustable thermostat device contained within saidhousing; (iii) a user adjustment control associated with said thermostathousing, said user adjustment control being coupled to said adjustablethermostat device to adjust first parameters for the operation of saidadjustable thermostat device; (iv) a securable adjustment controlassociated with said thermostat housing, said securable adjustmentcontrol being coupled to said adjustable thermostat device to adjustsecond parameters for the operation of said adjustable thermostatdevice; (v) a catch surface defined by said thermostat housing; and (vi)a first mating locking surface defined by said thermostat housing, andsaid locking device comprising: (a) a movement restraining memberdimensioned and configured in a locking position to engage said catchsurface and overly at least a portion of said securable adjustmentcontrol associated with said thermostat housing, said movementrestraining member being configured and dimensioned to prevent access tosaid securable adjustment control, said movement restraining memberoverlying said securable adjustment control when said movementrestraining member is in said locking position; (b) a mating lockingsurface defined by said movement restraining member; and (c) a lockcomprising a movable locking member secured to one of said movementrestraining member or said thermostat housing, said movable lockingmember being rotatable to engage a surface on the other of said movementrestraining member or thermostat housing.
 12. A thermostat, comprising:(a) a thermostat housing adapted to be secured to a mounting surface;(b) an adjustable thermostat device contained within said thermostathousing; (c) a user adjustment control associated with said thermostathousing, said user adjustment control being coupled to said adjustablethermostat device to adjust first parameters for the operation of saidadjustable thermostat device; (d) a securable adjustment controlassociated with said thermostat housing, said securable adjustmentcontrol being coupled to said adjustable thermostat device to adjustsecond parameters for the operation of said adjustable thermostatdevice; (e) a catch surface defined by said thermostat housing; (f) amovement restraining member dimensioned and configured in a lockingposition to engage said catch surface and overly at least a portion ofsecurable adjustment controls, said movement restraining member beingconfigured and dimensioned to prevent access to securable adjustmentcontrols when said movement restraining member is in said lockingposition overlying at least a portion of said securable adjustmentcontrols, said movement restraining member overlying said securableadjustment control when said movement restraining member is in saidlocking position; (g) a first mating locking surface defined by saidmovement restraining member; (h) a second mating locking surface definedby said thermostat housing, said second mating locking surface matingwith said first mating locking surface; and (i) a lock comprising amovable locking member secured to one of said movement restrainingmember or said thermostat housing, said movable locking member beingmoveable to engage a mating surface on the other of said movementrestraining member or thermostat housing.